Lots and lots of questions for HEI, NextEra

Talk about crowdsourcing. The Public Utilities Commission welcomed all 28 groups that want to formally participate in the process weighing the proposed sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to NextEra Energy Inc. As approved intervenors, the parties can ask questions that HEI and NextEra are obligated to answer. "The commission finds that it is in the public interest to ensure that a broad spectrum of interests are represented in the proceeding," according to a statement from the PUC.

HEI and NextEra opposed adding most of the intervenors. Having so many folks at the table may slow down the process, but that’s a small price to pay for the transparency and community insight that is gained.

‘Birthing houses’ lead to more than citizenship

There are actually a few takeaway messages from those stories about Chinese nationals coming to undercover "birthing houses" in the U.S. These are women who arrive with short-term visas with the goal of delivering their babies in the U.S.

One is that the U.S. clearly has an attraction to people of means in China, all the reports of economic growth notwithstanding. Their children get to apply for college here more easily, for starters, and the babies often are born without payment from the parents.

Two, Honolulu’s airport has a reputation for lax security, compared to Los Angeles. If that rap is deserved, going beyond our trademark aloha spirit vibe, maybe our security folks need to tap L.A. for some pointers.